Incredible, a credible threat for 9/11

A SOMBER LIAM CONTEMPLATES THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY

They said it was a credible threat from an unconfirmed source.  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-09/-credible-terrorist-threats-received-new-york-mayor-bloomberg-says.html
There would be lot of security and checkpoints and searches.  The places were NYC, Wash D.C.- maybe more. I had intended to go into Manhattan on Saturday 9/10/11, the day before the 10th anniversary of the attacks. This news would not stop me. Mayor Bloomberg was shown taking the subway, which he does every day.  This TV news spot was meant to reassure us.
I was determined to go in to NYC, walk around, go on the High Line.  Look towards the WTC site, imagining I could see the two footprints of the Twin Towers,  now memorials entitled, Reflecting Absence.  And so I went. on 12:37 PM LIRR train to Penn.

My mantra for the day 

Connect 

Show no Fear

At Penn Station, there is a presence of National Guard,  Police, FDNY and more officials mingling with  many people. What crowds! Good. No one is avoiding NYC. Stopped at Starbucks, my goodness is there a unity vibe here!  People are taking pix of each other, interacting. A sign says "on 9/11 let's all join in and be together free coffee 8-11!"   Cool. 
I start my walk.coming out the 8th avenue side. This begins a five hour trek down and up the west side of Manhattan. You will see the journey in the pix following.  My idea was to be in NYC on this very important weekend, to be present, visible, make connections with others, be fearless, all that.   I also hoped to see the WTC site from some point on the High-Line.  I think the High Line is capable of anything.
http://www.thehighline.org/

ARRIVED AT CHELSEA MARKET 16TH AND 9TH

http://www.chelseamarket.com/

A CHANGING FOUNTAIN, BLUE

NOW RED, MISSED THE GREEN

NOT LIAM

THOUGHT I SAW TOM COLICCHIO
I walk through the Chelsea market and come out on the other side which is 10th Avenue

YEP, I WAS AT 12TH

at 12th I am sort of under the High Line, I walk back to 9th ave and climb on at Gansevoort, the start of the southern end, and a little further up, see the view I want, next pic

HERE IS WHERE I SEE THE STATUE OF LIBERTY and WTC?

If you click on this photo, it will maximize and if you focus, you will see the Statue of Liberty.  I dream/wish that the shadowy grey building on the right is one of the new WTC buildings. Anyone think so?  My desire in being here is to connect to them in some psychic or real way.  So I deem it to be so in my mind.

AREA ON HIGH LINE WHERE WATER FLOWS 
Like walking through a river

PLANTS ARE SEASONAL AND VERY PUNGENT

EMPIRE STATE FROM HIGH LINE, 
I take this shot every time

 I have such a feeling of community while walking the High Line. A feeling of safety, the park in the sky now extends to 30th street, where I disembark to have a beer.  

Connect

Show No Fear

I end up at Lot on Tap http://www.thehighline.org/the-lot
among a boisterous, lively, diverse crowd, some security but unobtrusive. I buy the summery wheat Brooklyn brew, sit at a long table with strangers and feel cocooned enough to get deep into my book with only occasional pats to my belongings.
Eventually I make my why back to Penn walking along 30th with groups of people.  I see many police vans and checkpoints.  I re-enter Penn and am passed by a big shepherd search dog who barely gives me a sniff. I must admit to being a bit disappointed that I have not been stopped and asked to open my bags. Not even one dog has made eye contact or tried to give me a Liam lick.  The National Guard persons walk in twos.  Guess three is a crowd. No one asks me to join.
I am early for my train and stop at Tracks.  This is the type of friendly fun place that causes you to miss train after train
http://www.tracksbargrill.com/about.html
I am  wearing my straw Fedora to ward off  burnt scalp. I glance around noticing many men have not removed their caps, so I will keep mine on.   I order a Margarita with salt. Yum. I only take a few sips when I am asked  "Can I buy you a drink?"  A muscled tanned smiley Iron-worker from the WTC!  I know this since he is wearing a shirt that says so. "No thanks" I reply, "I am good."   Then another comment "Hi, I like your drink."  From me, another "Thanks."  Now the Iron-worker group members introduce themselves by handshakes.  I am glad I lift weights, I need every ounce of strength to match their grips. It must have been the hat's karma.  I tell them that I am from the suburbs and came in to show I am not afraid of being here on the 10th anniversary weekend.  This goes over very well.  I get toasted. I mean they raise their glasses to  me.  Pictures of Liam are shown. All iron-workers are dog lovers. Then it is time for my train.  I slide off my chair as they are doing another toasting and leave unnoticed.

MY HAT

Though I might not have actually seen the new WTC towers, I did in fact connect with those working on them.  That is good. I showed no fear.

Connect

Show No Fear

Thanks for sharing my journey, Liam waited

Woof Woof

No Fear of Fireworks this Year

LIAM WEARING HEADLAMP AROUND HIS NECK

The last week in August brings a bazaar/feast/fair to New Hyde Park. It is held on the town park grounds across the street and has the creaky rides, mixed grill smells, and awful stuffed animal prizes.  People love it.  The weekend fireworks are a highlight for many. The fireworks have been the source of increasing terror for Liam and a fear for us that his shaking body will one year cause severe damage to his heart. 

Hurricane Irene stopped the festivities and closed the party down.  No fireworks. Though Irene did not hit NY as a hurricane, I will never downgrade her to a tropical storm, as the damage will put her up in the top  storms of all time.

CAUSE OF OUR POWER LOSS

The winds came early in the morning Sunday, August 28.   That is when the trees started falling. Long Island's sandy soil so saturated with rain from recent storms can no longer hold onto its trees.  They fell steadily all over New Hyde Park as well as other Long Island towns  Two on our block fell together at 9:20AM Sunday -looking like a mirror image of each other as they landed in the exact same position 10 feet apart.  The trees fell all day, smashing houses. cutting wires, pulling up foundations, crushing cars.  
That began a week of no power. Routines were upended.  

BOOK DOES NOT NEED A CHARGE, BOOK LIGHT ABOVE

I  fully charged  all my devices on Saturday.  Nevertheless, power ebbs   I made my first trip to the car to charge my blackberry on Sunday afternoon, risking my life under an oak. I brought a flashlight and a book.  IPAD was at 90%, so no fear there yet.

Monday I knew the libraries would be packed with folks charging so I looked for alternative locations.  Starbucks had more devices charging than lattes being drunk;  no outlets available on Monday. I did use the North Shore LIJ waiting room, unplugging a lamp.  IPAD at 75%.

We were able to use a restaurant gift card for dinner Monday night.  Refugees from the storm made it a packed house with sort of disaster camaraderie all around.

WINE AND HEAD LAMP

On Monday night, I wine texted a group of friends to call me at 7AM to get us up for Paul's appt.  Four called.  Nice. We made it. Thanks folks. As a result, I figured how to set the alarm on my blackberry.   Something learned from Irene.

Tuesday dinner we have our first whole pizza since 1986.  The uneaten slices go in the cooler.  Yuck. The congealed cheese on ice is so appealing the next day.

IPAD down to an alarming 32%.   I am using it when I am out.

 IPAD at 10% by Wednesday afternoon, I charge it at the gym while rowing, get it back up to 57%.  I would have had to exercise for 2 more hours to reach 100%.    

Wednesday dinner we have our first Chinese takeout since 1991.

STORM EQUIPMENT

STORM CENTRAL

By this time I have purchased headlamps, book lights, and better flashlights.  Eating while wearing my head lamp proves very efficient.

In every place I frequent, I know where every outlet is.  I feel a buzz, a charge, whenever I see an unused, unguarded one. I wonder if this new found excitement will last when/if the power returns.

LIAM LOOKING AT WHAT REMAINS IN FRIDGE-4 SAM ADAMS

Our food is thrown out and the fridge cleaned. Wow,  It looks good.  Only survivors are some Sam Adams.

By Wednesday, August 31 we are into day 4.  This date is the anniversary of Hurricane Carol, 8/31/54.  http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/hurricane/hurricaneCarol.shtml 
I remember it, I was recently four years old, as tall as the window ledge, and was tasked with the job of mopping up the gushing water streaming through the windows of our apartment. My mother somehow put the idea in my head that I was responsible for Carol's ruthless fury.  It was so fierce a storm that the name "Carol" was retired from hurricane names forever. 

At 8:11PM,  the lights come on.  I feel such joy.  I also feel sad for those who have had so much to deal with and will continue to struggle in the coming weeks and months.

NIGHT OF AUGUST 28, IRENE MOVING ON

MONDAY AUGUST 29, SAME SCENE

LIAM RESTING ON NEWLY DRY LAWN LAST WEEK

What is next?  rain, rain, and more rain, water where it should not be. The wettest August in history.
Woof, Woof

Quacked while Tweeting during the Quake

RIDING OUT THE EARTHQUAKE

Yes, we had an earthquake on the east coast.  No, I did not feel a thing. In case you were on vacay, read about it-
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/us/24quake.html?pagewanted=all
I was driving.  Seems if you were in a car, the motion of the car prevents quake motion.  At least that is what is being said. I tweeted at the first red light "earthquake here in NY" so I became part of the group of thousands of tweeters. I arrived at Starbucks late for my meeting with my friend but armed with a good excuse-earthquake. As I entered Starbucks, there was a crowd in the doorway. The quake had caused everyone to gather.  I  walked to where my friend was sitting.   She was engaged in a conversation with young woman who lived in Washington D.C. The woman was very concerned and upset.  We noticed a man nearby very immersed in his laptop.   I was told that he never looked up during the tremor. Odd.   Apparently it was quite noticeable in Starbucks. That was my first twinge of tremor envy, a term that NBC news anchor Shiba Russell coined later in the afternoon.http://twitter.com/#!/Shiba4NY
I pulled out my IPAD and accessed Twitter to see what was happening. There were tweets from all the major news organizations and many individuals as well.   I left my IPAD open so we could update ourselves periodically.

It was not until much later that night that I noticed a strange message from one of the Twitter accounts I follow.  I ignored it.   Then about half past six on Wednesday all my followers got a few messages that I did not send.  I had been hacked. It had to have happened during the quake tweeting at Starbucks.  Like Shiba,  I also have coined an earthquake expression "I was quacked " (quake hacked)
I fixed it easily,thanks to a friend who alerted me early. The two following tweets are the work of my hacker.   I think the second is particularly hack witty. I deleted the links-they are bogus.  I am CBIZ on Twitter.

cbiz Carol McNiff

Serious about losing weight? then i suggest you visit this link asap!

1 hour ago

cbiz Carol McNiff

Twitter has a way to keep your account safe and secure ;) visit their tweet link

2 hours ago

I know most of you did not get these, as you are not Tweeters.  Maybe you now have tweet envy.
I have decided my hacker is the Starbucks guy who was very disinterested in the quake.  I like to put a face on my hacker.  I do have 3G and will make sure I am not WIFI vulnerable again.

LIAM BARKING AT THE QUAKE

Dogs apparently sensed the quake before humans. Liam barked. How do I know?  He told me when I came home.  These dogs in Virginia barked also.

We know that the East coast has been made fun of for being so hyped up about the quake. Thing is-NYC and Wash DC are always thinking 9/11, especially in this month near the 10th anniversary. I know that is why hundreds of people ran out of their buildings downtown.
Conversely it is also why hundreds stayed put and did not get upset-

Next, Hurricane Irene.  Liam is on alert and I have to buy some wine and duct (duck) tape. Quack.

WAITING FOR IRENE

Woof, Woof

Eye and the Storm

SMILING FOUR YEAR OLD

Eye Story-I have a black eye. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-black-eye/HQ00016
Although termed "a black eye" this injury often involves other colors and mine does. Mostly shades of Zinfandel, Merlot, Beaujolais and a little Cabernet-see the ring under my eye in the next photo.

THE BLACK EYE 2011

I first noticed it after an early morning trip to the bathroom. A glance in the mirror is part of the visit.  I had been in the den on the couch. Alone. No one nearby. Did I sleep on the remote? Did my blackberry bang me? Was I smacked by my Kindle?  Did I leave my glasses on my face and incur frame dent? I keep a row of treasures on the ledge of the couch so I will have access to an array of devices, books, and remotes when on the den couch.   Perhaps one or more fell on me.
Since I have restless leg, sleep apnea and disturbing dreams, I thought it unlikely I would not have known, as I never, ever reach the state of REM sleep.  Verified by the sleep clinic I have attended.

DID ONE OF THESE TREASURES TURN ON ME?

Or was it a direct hit from the monster hail balls that pummeled us on Monday, August 1?  That story follows.  Click on the previous  photo if you need a closer look for book titles (and readers, some are library and one is borrowed from a rocker friend- (I will return it-no worries)
This is my third "black" eye of retirement-the first two caused by Liam. Not this one. All three have been the same eye, the right.  Guess I lean that way.  Now I must bring out the photo of my favorite eye injury-the one from when puppy Liam body slammed my face into concrete leaping for a squirrel.

MOST COLORFUL EYE INJURY FEB 29 2008

I keep the framed photo on the wall of the kitchen above Liam's food and water bowls.  After all, it is his creation. A few sentences ago, I offered the idea that I might have been hit by hail while filming the August 1  storm. I was hit, but the eye injury was already present.

Here is the storm story.  Mostly visual and one with sound from You Tube.  That is my next project, my own videos for the blog.

Storm Story-on August 1 (DOGust 1 in the canine world) we here In New Hyde Park (the storm epicenter) experienced a fierce violent lightning laced thunder booming late afternoon storm.

HAIL FALLING-ON THE GROUND

What made it so unique was the hail.  The size, the weight, the damage.  Hail not the size of golf balls, an iconic comparison.   Bigger.  Since hail has to be compared to balls, I was at a disadvantage, having no golf,  tennis, or baseballs in the house. I used my blackberry (the one that probably beat me in the eye) to show the size of the hail pieces I captured.

BLACKBERRY WITH HAIL

The street flooded, the tide came up to the front porch

FLOODED BAXTER AVENUE, IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE

Two people had to be rescued from their sinking car

RESCUE

and many cars had their windshields broken by the beating of the giant hail balls. As I drove down the block later that day I counted 8 cars with broken windows bandaged with comforters, wrapped with hefty bags, holes stuffed with blankets. Glass in the street and in driveways.  Usually lightning strikes trees and they fall and hit cars. Not this time. In an ironic twist of  nature, my oak tree protected my car windows. The hail beat upon the tree, forcing its leaves onto my car, which formed a protective cushion on my windshield.

CAR WITH LEAF PROTECTION-36 DENTS ANYWAY BUT NO BROKEN WINDSHIELDS

Still, I counted 36 hail dents in the roof, trunk and hood.  I did have to use a snow scraper to remove the leaves, as they were sodden and embedded on the car windows.

You Tube of the hail balls bouncing-worth a listen

Liam spent several hours of his fourth birthday shaking with terror from the pelting noises outside.  I would liken the noise to making popcorn in the microwave ramped up a thousand decibels.
Then the sun came out, while the rain continued. The firefighters came for support.

FIREFIGHTERS TO THE RESCUE

Many cars in New Hyde Park are pinged with dents.  I found out that the word "ping" has now been borrowed by residents to describe the sounds of the falling hail, as well as the resulting hail dent.  So the hail was pinging and the dents are pings. A popular question around town, "how many pings do you have?"  I am pinged all over. Mine are so numerous and evenly spaced that I accept them as the new look to Sawyer (my Focus)  Hey, my windows are intact.  The economy is booming for collision shops in New Hyde Park.  I hope Congress addresses the dent ceiling, now that they are done with the debt ceiling.
There are few flowers remaining in New Hyde Park, just stumps where impatiens once were. I no longer do annuals, but feel for the folks who meticulously planted them in May.
Most lawn ornaments are broken. 
All my solar dragonflies have lost their wings and some their ability to light up.
Good news. Things can be fixed.
And my storm pix were published in the New Hyde Park Patch
.http://newhydepark.patch.com/blog_posts/the-hail-storm
Flowers will grow (maybe) People pulled together. I have 6 hail balls (the size of plums) in the freezer in case anyone needs ice with a little gravel.

We are now in August 

and we usually have a break at this time

 from LiamLicks publishing

 And we will again. 

Liam wants to enjoy some dog days 

and already is in position all over the house as well as outside. hard to keep the four year old motivated when he sees all the other kids off from school.

Enjoy your vacations, catch up on LiamLicks. Share with friends.  We cherish our loyal readers and hope to attract more. We will be making new stories.
No trips this year, we will be at home, but stories occur anywhere and at anytime.

See you Thursday August 25, 2011. Of course if a story must be blogged, it will be.

AAH, DOG DAYS AGAIN

Woof, woof

Posted by Carol at 4:42 PM

Liam Turns Four on August 1st.

LIAM 6 MONTHS OLD

Happy Birthday Liam!
We adopted Liam on January 1, 2008 from North Shore Animal League. Yes, New Year's Day.  We were told that he was 5 months old.  I counted back five months and came up with August 1, 2007 as his birthday.   I am happy he is a Leo like me. In 2008, NSAL deemed the universal birthday of all shelter and rescue dogs to be August 1, in dog world known as DOGgust 1.
BTW, I did not find out about this special day until last year. See story-http://portwashington.patch.com/events/north-shore-animal-league-america-happy-dogust-the-1st

LIAM FIRST WEEK JANUARY 2008

YOUNG LIAM CIRCA SPRING 2008

This year, on 8/01/11, Liam attains 4 years of age. He has a few gray hairs around his chin and on some other parts.  He runs and leaps and licks with the passion of the young puppy Liam. I  have shoes, bags, books, furniture with his teeth marks in them.  The backs of all my clogs have been chewed. I wear them anyway.  One of my pairs of UGGS has big chunks out of its lining. All the blinds are cracked save for the upstairs bathroom, the result of Liam jumping at them to capture elusive squirrels he sees outside. Puppy stuff. The adult  Liam now sits with us, watches TV, does some yoga, meditates. Middle-aged qualities? Nah.
How old is Liam in human years?   No chart captures all the factors that must considered.   You might have heard that the first year =15 human years, then just keep adding 7.  Not exactly. There are other forces at work to keep Liam from aging.

Diet    only dog food, no table gifts of human food, except for popcorn

Health  vaccinations and regular vet visits, yearly physical at Best in Show

Vacations and Grooming at Best in Show Pet Resort

Mental Health- walks, being part of the pack at home, plays, watches The View, Food Network, and HGTV and all reality shows.

Who's my Daddy?  Heredity. Mutts seem to be healthier.  Many mixed genes make for a strong stew.  Liam is equal parts, beagle, doxie, Irish setter and dalmatian.   And he is from Tennessee.

RED WINE

And a  little red wine (for me that is)

the following link says a 4 year old dog might be analogous to a 32 year old human.
http://www.dogster.com/dog-health-care/calculate-dog-age-in-dog-years

LIAM IN HIS CHAIR-AT ONE

ALMOST FOUR

With Liam's positive attributes inherited from his canine birth parents and care administered by his loving human parents and caregivers, we confidently subtract 2 years from the average 32 and come up with 30 in human years. Figure on this August 1 Liam at canine age 4= a 30 year old human.

He and newbie Kevin Grogan are the same age this year on the same day.
Kevin turns 30 on 8/01/11.   Happy Birthday, Kev!!!! I know that from my experience of dancing with Kevin for 5 hours at a recent wedding that he is still as energetic as Liam.

A young man once said "do not trust anyone over 30." This person is now 70.
"http://www.quotecounterquote.com/2009/09/don-trust-anyone-over-30-or-40.html

Anyway 30 is the new 20.

DON'T TRUST ME? I AM  HUMAN 30

Liam's Stats at Four

Height 16 inches
weight 32 pounds
length-27" plus 10 inch tail- a true hot dog

 This year we have a certificate for DOGust 1
if you click on it, it is more readable

 

JUST A LITTLE NAP MIGHT BE NICE

Woof, woof

Daytime TV Watching

READY FOR TV

This is Liam talking.  Every now and then I take over my eponymous blog and exercise my writing chops. I fancy myself a bit like Enzo, narrator of the popular book, soon to be movie The Art of Racing in the Rain.
http://www.garthstein.com/arr/ 
We have mentioned Enzo in a previous blog.   Guess what?  Enzo is creeping up to becoming a popular boy's name.  Watch out Jayden, Josh,and  Jacob.
Enzo watches the Weather Channel, National Geographic and Car Racing. Not me. I am a Channel 7 boy.

Carol turns on Channel 7 at 9AM for Regis and Kelly.  The TV stays on all day for me.  Carol's retirement life is busy so she may be in and out and wants me to feel engaged and to have something to watch if I choose.  I do love Regis and Kelly.  Rachael Ray is up next at10AM and is fine, though I cannot eat most of what she makes.  My parents are strict about human food, none for me, except popcorn on Fridays.  The View is a blast-love watching the women.  We have some news at 12 Noon and at 12:30 PM, Meredith Viera, on Millionaire. I am in love with her.

LIAM WATCHING THE MORNING WOMEN

At 1PM, we have All My Children.   Carol loves AMC. From what I understand, she has been a fan since its start in 1970.  The soap right after is One Life to Live. Same deal, long time fan- since 1968.  I don't think she watched consistently while going to college or working at SSA.  But she seems to have caught up.

AFTERNOON SOAPS

Anyway, both shows are leaving TV within the next few months.   The plots have gotten downright confusing. The twists that have ensued since the cancellation announcements are just confounding.  There are now two Erica Kanes on All My Children.
Yes. Maybe a second Emmy for Susan Lucci, the actor who has played Erica since day one. If Susan Lucci is playing two people that should count as double credit.  Apparently, a woman named Jane has had herself physically remade into Erica Kane and Erica is being held captive while Jane lives Erica's life in the real world.  Another development is that some long time actors have left so other actors just appear as them and I am supposed to believe they are the same!!  It is hard enough for a dog to follow human interactions and the complexities of their relationships without having new people with the same name but different faces show up.

The next show at 2PM,  One Life to Live,  is even more convoluted and outsane* lately. There are two Todd Mannings, a triple personality-Jess, Bess and Tess and her mother with a double personality, Viki and Niki.  I know all this doubling up, tripling up, and disappearing and reappearing are because of the nearing end of both shows.  I am not sure what the writers are thinking, but they had the smarts to name a new baby boy character, Liam.  I have a front row seat in the living room and pillows in which to bury my face or turn when it becomes too much for me.

SOMETIMES I TURN AWAY

 We are in the middle of a heat wave so I really do not mind being inside the cool house.

IS DOCTOR PHIL ON YET?

For now my daily job is to watch, learn and pass the day.  During the heat wave I must not do anything strenuous, I must keep hydrated and I must keep my body temperature down. I can accomplish all these things by watching the Channel 7 lineup.  I am never left alone for longer than 6 hours, as Carol is a quasi stay at home Mom.

WHERE IS OPRAH?

I heard that they might continue the two cancelled Soap shows on the Internet. I have trouble using the IPAD and PC and Blackberry and Kindle. I am no longer a puppy, so I have no urge to chew these devices but they are not dog friendly.  I have paws and I cannot grip the stylus they offer to big pawed humans, so I will not be following on the Internet should they continue there.

Maybe HGTV, OWN or Food Network.

WHAT CHANNEL IS OWN?

 *a new Huntington Beach, California word, meaning not quite insane, just charmingly wacky.
Woof, woof